Searching for a solid spruce guitar.

**Andreaj88** · 07-20-2016, 04:38 AM

Hello everyone,
First of all, sorry for my bad english, i'm italian.
A few days ago i lost a very good chance to buy a Peerless Monarch at 600 Euros; the seller sold it to someone who call him before.
Now i can't find other used models and i can not afford a new one.
Wich models you recommend around 900-1000 Euros ($ 1099)?
I already have an Ibanez akj95 wich is a good guitar, but i'm searching for a solid spruce with a floating pickup.
However i found a good opportunity: Peerless New York with Bartolini J5 at 550 Euros.
I know that this one is in laminate, but i think that it has better woods than my ibanez. So i tought that it would be a good idea to buy this one and sell the Ibanez and wait for another good deal for a solid spruce.
What do you think?
So the questions are:
- Good solid around 1000 Euros
- Sell Ibanez Akj95 for a Peerless New York (with Bartolini J5), good idea?

I'm not a professional guitarist; i play guitar for 12 years (mostly Blues) and i start to study Jazz last year.
I play Italian Swing in a band (Drum, Double bass, Guitar, Voice).
I love the sound of Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green... In short: the roots jazz guitar players.

Again: Sorry for my bad english, hope that you have understood everything!

Thank You
Ciao

**339 in june** · 07-20-2016, 04:45 AM

You may consider Eastman AR503 which are solid spruce top, play and sound fine (I have one and am pretty happy with it). If you have the chance to find one used, it will stay within your budget.
In this price range, maybe you can find The Loar guitars, but I have no personal experience with these.
Good luck in your quest !

**Andreaj88** · 07-20-2016, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by 339 in june

You may consider Eastman AR503 which are solid spruce top, play and sound fine (I have one and am pretty happy with it). If you have the chance to find one used, it will stay within your budget.
In this price range, maybe you can find The Loar guitars, but I have no personal experience with these.
Good luck in your quest !

Unfortunately it's impossible to find that Eastman here.
Opinion on the Peerless New York?
Thank you for the answer!

**Jabberwocky** · 07-20-2016, 05:27 AM

How about the Tobias archtop that is for sale by h555 in For Sale? Work something out with him?

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/sale/...bias-sale.html .

**Jonah** · 07-20-2016, 05:47 AM

- Sell Ibanez Akj95 for a Peerless New York (with Bartolini J5), good idea?

I like AKJ95 ...
And as I can see you want actually different type of guitar... to me it's always better to get some more money and to keep two different types for while to play them both to see which one is better...

With laminates you can never tell acoustics before you try.... if it's better or worse... I own Epi Broadway... it is laminated with two installed pickups but it sounds acoustivally very nice and loud (to me better than some Peerless models I tried)...

I see that you just want to try bigger box with one floating pickup and with low budget? If so..

You can try The Loar - they have even all solid models at a low price - but all the Loars I tried personally were terrible in construction - though I heard guys managed to get good ones

Just think it over - do you really want solid top? or you just want to try bigger box?

**Andreaj88** · 07-20-2016, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Jonah

I like AKJ95 ...
And as I can see you want actually different type of guitar... to me it's always better to get some more money and to keep two different types for while to play them both to see which one is better...

With laminates you can never tell acoustics before you try.... if it's better or worse... I own Epi Broadway... it is laminated with two installed pickups but it sounds acoustivally very nice and loud (to me better than some Peerless models I tried)...

I see that you just want to try bigger box with one floating pickup and with low budget? If so..

You can try The Loar - they have even all solid models at a low price - but all the Loars I tried personally were terrible in construction - though I heard guys managed to get good ones

Just think it over - do you really want solid top? or you just want to try bigger box?

I love the sound of the solid spruce, i read about the loar, but i'm afraid to buy a guitar that it will be impossible to sell if i don't like it.
I like my Ibanez too, i entered the Full Hollows world thanks to that guitar. Do you think that the Peerless New York it's a better guitar (especially for the woods and the gloss)? And what about the Bartolini J5?

**snoskier63** · 07-20-2016, 09:18 AM

You can also have a guitar made for you. I don't know my conversions from USD, but for about $1000 - $1200 USD you can have Mr. Wu make you a very nice carved arch top. He formerly worked for Eastman, but now does his own thing. Several members have bought his guitars and have been very happy.

PRODUCTS - Handmade Jazz guitar supplier in China---Yolanda Team

**Jonah** · 07-20-2016, 09:25 AM

Do you think that the Peerless New York it's a better guitar (especially for the woods and the gloss)?

I think it's just different than AKJ95... differnt type of guitar - I cannot say it's better or worse...

At the same time not that much differnt to one instead of another...

Try Guild Savoy

Guild Guitars | A-150 Savoy in Blonde

Solid spruce top ... and DeArmond pickup... and after all it's Guild... I am sure you will sell it if you do not like it...

Btw ... from my experience solid top on archtops with all that glossy finish does not necessarily sound really well (it's not always the same obvious difference as with regular acoustic flattops)...
I saw laminated archtops that sounded acoustically better solid tops of approx the same level...
the difference was only solid top may grow better and better with time...

**nopedals** · 07-20-2016, 09:42 AM

"Solid" spruce top is advertising lingo for "not carved." There is little or no reason to pick a "solid" spruce top over a laminate, and little or no reason to put a floating pickup on a "solid" spruce top (they aren't acoustic guitars, and getting a floater only increases feedback). Over here, Loar and Eastman sell reasonably priced carved top guitars; don't know about Europe. You might be well served regularly checking the for sale section of this board; lots of reasonably priced carved tops show up there.

**Andreaj88** · 07-20-2016, 09:51 AM

We can buy Loar from Thomann here in Europe, i'm interested at the lh 650, but i read a lot of differents experiences on this instrument and i'm afraid to buy something that i might don't like, cause here it's very hard to sell, even for brands like guild and gretsch. You mentioned the feedback problem for floating pickups, is that hard to control it?

**Jonah** · 07-20-2016, 10:11 AM

We can buy Loar from Thomann here in Europe, i'm interested at the lh 650, but i read a lot of differents experiences on this instrument and i'm afraid to buy something that i might don't like, cause here it's very hard to sell, even for brands like guild and gretsch.

I would not buy The Loar on-line... just my personal opinion.
Though I bought quite a few items from thomann and all without problems... both in delivery and quality.
But The Loars I tried at the shop needed investments.. and I did not always like the sound even though all-solid...

Where are you exactly? Which country?

Or sorry I see.. it's Italy

**Jonah** · 07-20-2016, 10:15 AM

You can make a topic - something like 'Buying archtop in Italy' - I know there are some Italian forumites here and even pro players... I am sure they might give you an advice

I managed to buy and sell 4 archtops being in Russia... I think it is not easier than in Iatly for sure)))

**Greentone** · 07-20-2016, 10:19 AM

The Loars I have played in person have been quite good. The Guild Savoy is a very nice guitar and features what I think is the best floating pickup you are going to find in that price range--the reproduction DeArmond.

**jbucklin** · 07-20-2016, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

The Loars I have played in person have been quite good. The Guild Savoy is a very nice guitar and features what I think is the best floating pickup you are going to find in that price range--the reproduction DeArmond.

Are you referring to the current Newark St. line?

**Andreaj88** · 07-20-2016, 01:21 PM

I read, on this forum probably, that the guild a150 is not that good, other experiences?
What about peerless Jazz City?

**Jonah** · 07-20-2016, 03:35 PM

I read, on this forum probably, that the guild a150 is not that good, other experiences?

I cannot remember any complaints on any Guild to be fair...

I tried Savoy personally a few times - finally I did not get just because I did not want to get another big box with floating pick up...

**339 in june** · 07-20-2016, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Andreaj88

We can buy Loar from Thomann here in Europe, i'm interested at the lh 650, but i read a lot of differents experiences on this instrument and i'm afraid to buy something that i might don't like, cause here it's very hard to sell, even for brands like guild and gretsch. You mentioned the feedback problem for floating pickups, is that hard to control it?

At least, they (Thomann) have a good return policy, if finally the Loar is not OK for you
They (Thomann again) have Peerless, too.

No personal experience with Peerless, but some members here are saying a lot of good...

**Jabberwocky** · 07-20-2016, 04:30 PM

Can you get a used Höfner Jazzica for €1000 in the EU?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_hct...zzica_245916_0 ?

**snoskier63** · 07-20-2016, 04:33 PM

I actually recall a few instances here where the Guild A-150 was not preferred, but most that have tried it actually liked it. Keep in mind that there are also those that don't like Gibson, Godin, Peerless, Eastman, Heritage, and other makes (or models) that many people love. The A-150 can't be expected to compete with a $5000 carved arch top, but for well under $1000 used they are very good sounding and are well made. At that price range, however, it is probably more important to try before you buy simply because consistency between guitars can be more of an issue than with much higher priced guitars. One reason I prefer Guild guitars is because their level of consistency since the 1950's has been incredibly good, and even with the new Korean line seems to be better than most. That allows me to confidently buy without previously trying a particular guitar.

**Andreaj88** · 07-21-2016, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Can you get a used Höfner Jazzica for €1000 in the EU?

Höfner HCT-SL-N-0 Blue Tone Archtop - Thomann UK ?

probably yes

**BigToe** · 07-21-2016, 01:30 PM

If you love the sound of Wes, Burrell, Green then a solid top guitar with a floater is not the right guitar for that sound.

the potential for feedback is increased significantly with a solid top guitar with a floating pickup. It depends on many factors but it could range from mild feedback to very difficult to control.

this video is a fair comparison in sound.

**Andreaj88** · 07-21-2016, 06:12 PM

I love that natural woody sound but probably you're true, it will be hard to use in a live context with the band, i like to play alone but i need a more versatile guitar cause i like to play with the band too; maybe something different from my ibanez, that is a 175 style...A L5 style guitar? There are a lot of copies like Epiphone Broadway and Washburn j5 (or j6?)

**Jonah** · 07-22-2016, 01:20 AM

I love that natural woody sound

That's actually what I tried to find at the beginning of my 'jazz guitar' searches - to combine good acoustic sound with good amplified tone...
I do not know - I ended up with bying acoustic... all-solid jumbo guitar))) for acoustic playing...

here are a lot of copies like Epiphone Broadway and Washburn j5 (or j6?)

I own Epi Broadway (bought new from thomann).... It's Korean (Unsung factory).
I love this guitar... Love some special things about it like Frequensator)))
It is very well done... very smoothly played right from the box - no faults at all...

It has very loud and pleasent acoustic tone... not only for practice.. but I even played at master class with he teache who had real acoustic... and once in an 'appartment' jam with slightly amplified es-175 and upright bass ... and in both cases I played acoustically... and it was absolutely audible and sounded very nice

Actually many guys who tried mine said that it sounded as if the top is solid...

But it's not and there are two humbuckers installed and knobs and switch..

So of course you cannot compare with real acoustic archtop and even more with flat-top (I have all-solid jumbo - of course this The Acoustic sound)))

As per amplified sound... it is a bit muddy and lacks highs to me... the thing is I play it only slightly amplified... but you really add volume - I don't know - the pickups are obviously cheap.. you may want to change it.

Another point - it is very heavy... heavy to carry (especially in a hardcase) and if you play with a strap...

And it is really big - actually it is exactly the same as my full-size jumbo (they fit teh same hardcase) - not that deep..

So you may have some problem with hands and back...

And last but not least - it looks nice but to me a bit pretencious... I mean you can see that it tries to look more expensive that it really is...

For example what I like about Ibanez that they look at the price they are.. they do not want to 'pretend Gibsons'...

Actually I wanted to switch to AJK95 - exactly because it's lighter and a bit smaller... but I already had similar guitar (Godin 5th Ave)

so finally I am getting nor Ibanez AS93 with Super 58 pups (ES-335 type guitar)... but I still try to keep my Broadway... I have somthing personal about it)

If you want I can try to may some short demo tonight when I get home.. I do not make vids usually but if you really need it I can do it

**entresz** · 07-22-2016, 01:54 AM

Not sure what the availability is like in Italy - but as far as solid top archtops go, one of the more affordable options is the Gretsch G-400 Synchromatic. From what I have heard there's quite a lot of variation in the specifications throughout the models run. Some have rosewood fingerboards, and apparently some are laminated too.

Mine is from 2012 and has a solid "formed/pressed" top and a very slick ebony fingerboard. There's a little hole in the top where the pickguard is mounted and can confirm that it is not laminated. It's not as lively as a good carved top, but it still has a respectable acoustic sound. I have a floating Vintage Vibe CC pickup fitted to it and it's a very sweet sounding instrument.

**Andreaj88** · 07-22-2016, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by entresz

Not sure what the availability is like in Italy - but as far as solid top archtops go, one of the more affordable options is the Gretsch G-400 Synchromatic. From what I have heard there's quite a lot of variation in the specifications throughout the models run. Some have rosewood fingerboards, and apparently some are laminated too.

Mine is from 2012 and has a solid "formed/pressed" top and a very slick ebony fingerboard. There's a little hole in the top where the pickguard is mounted and can confirm that it is not laminated. It's not as lively as a good carved top, but it still has a respectable acoustic sound. I have a floating Vintage Vibe CC pickup fitted to it and it's a very sweet sounding instrument.

Here they sell it at 2700 euros.. It's too much for my pockets!